Node Differentiation in Multi-Node Electronic Systems

ABSTRACT

A technique for differentiating nodes in a multi-node electronic system includes establishing an intended configuration for the system, the configuration including a number of nodes to be installed and a specification of intended node locations. A node ID for each of multiple nodes to be installed in the system is established, and the multiple nodes are installed. Using the node ID established for each of the multiple nodes, a determination is made whether the multiple nodes as installed comply, with the intended configuration.

BACKGROUND

Electronic systems such as server computers often include multiple processing units called nodes. A node typically includes a main circuit board known as a motherboard that hosts one or more central processing units and some associated memory. Each node in a server computer system may be connected via cables to one or more data storage devices such as hard disk drives, optical disk drives and the like. While a node may be connected to multiple data storage devices, generally a data storage device is connected to only one node.

To ensure compliance with a desired configuration for a given server system, it is important that the correct data storage devices be connected to the intended nodes. If this is not the case, then the result is a cabling error. Cabling errors arising from installation or maintenance activities can cause a variety of serious problems including malfunction or non-function of the server system.

It is also important that power supplies and cooling systems that are intended to be associated with certain nodes actually be so associated when a server system is installed and maintained. If this does not occur, problems such as overheating and power supply overload can result.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an oblique view illustrating a multi-node electronic system in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway close-up view illustrating the system of FIG. 1 in more detail.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the multi-node system of FIG. 1 in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a close-up view illustrating the attachment of a resilient conducting clip to a structure in accordance with an example embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 5A-5D are side views of the clip and structure of FIG. 4 shown in various different configurations, each configuration establishing a different node identification value.

FIG. 6 is a table illustrating the correspondence between the clip configurations of FIG. 5 and the node identification values they establish.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of differentiating nodes in a multi-node system in accordance with example embodiments including without limitation those of FIGS. 1-6.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a general technique for differentiating nodes in a multi-node system in accordance with various embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 presents a multi-node electronic system 100 according to an example embodiment of the invention. System 100 includes a chassis 102 configured to receive multiple nodes 104 therein. In one example class of embodiments, the system may be a server computer system and the nodes may be motherboards hosting computing devices and memory. Other electronic systems may also benefit from the same techniques to be described here. Each of nodes 104 is configured to be installed in chassis 102, for example by sliding into chassis 102 as indicated in the drawing.

FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of one of nodes 104 sliding into chassis 102. As can be seen in the drawings, one or more resilient conductors 106 may be disposed either on nodes 104 or on chassis 106. Conductors 106 are configured to establish a different node identification value for each of nodes 104 by either making or not making electrical connections between circuitry on nodes 104 and circuitry on chassis 102 when the nodes are inserted therein.

Electrically, this can be seen in FIG. 3. Pull-up resistors 300, 302 on the nodes can either be connected to chassis ground 304 or not, depending on whether one of the resilient conductors 106 is present. Thus, together, the pull-up resistors 300, 302 and chassis ground 304 form node identification circuitry capable of differentiating the several nodes from one another by maintaining different voltage values. If a conductor 106 is present so that resistor 302 is connected to chassis ground 304, then node ID signal NID1 is pulled low. If not, signal NID1 is pulled high. Similarly, if a conductor 106 is present so that resistor 300 is connected to chassis ground 304, then signal NID0 is pulled low, else it is pulled high. In this manner each node may be given a unique binary identification value by installing conductors 106 at various different locations appropriately so that the electrical connections made or not made by conductors 106 will represent a one or zero for each digit of the binary identification value. In systems with two nodes, a single digit suffices for this purpose. In the illustrated embodiment, there are four nodes, so two digits are used. In other embodiments, more nodes may be used and a suitably larger number of digits employed to differentiate the nodes.

A node controller 306 may take signals NID0 and NID1 as inputs and report the resulting binary node identification value to a system controller 308. System controller 308 can then determine whether an expected node identification value has been reported by a given node 104, and can reply to the node with an appropriate response. For example, system controller 308 may indicate OK to the node if the node reported the expected node identification value, or ERROR if the node reported an unexpected node identification value. Similarly, system controller 308 may make a determination for the entire system whether each of the nodes has reported a unique node identification value. Finally, a visual indication of these determinations may be displayed using a visual indicator 310 such as the light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) shown in the drawing. The LEDs may have different colors, for example, so that different states may be indicated using the different colors and/or by flashing them. In the embodiment shown, the visual indication is given by node controller 306 after it receives its response from system controller 314. In other embodiments, the visual indication may be given by system controller 308.

In some embodiments, as in the embodiment shown, a separate communication bus 312 may be provided for each of the nodes in the system. In this class of embodiments, each node communicates its node identification value to system controller 308 via one of the buses 312. Controller 308 may be configured to expect a specific node identification value on each of buses 312. Any type of bus can be used for this purpose. For example, serial communication buses may be used and may be multiplexed to system controller 308 using a multiplexer 314 as shown.

A variety of techniques may be employed to establish node identification values using conductors 106. In one class of embodiments, this can be done by making the conductors removable so that configuration and reconfiguration is easily achieved. As illustrated in FIG. 4, one way of doing this is to fashion conductor 106 from a resilient metal clip having legs 400. The clip can be attached to a structure 402 at various locations by engaging or urging legs 400 against opposing bearing surfaces 404 or 406. In the embodiment shown, the clip may be installed in two different locations. In other embodiments, more locations may be provided as needed.

Structure 402 may take any suitable form. In the embodiment shown, it is a flange that extends from a wall of chassis 102 over a portion of one of nodes 104. When a node 104 is installed in chassis 102, arcuate conductive surfaces 500 slide under the flange so that arcuate surfaces 500 will engage a clip if one is present. Arcuate conductive surfaces 500 may be connected, for example, to resistors 300 and 302. Flange 402 may itself be conductive so that engagement of surface 500 with conductor 106 will complete a circuit to chassis ground. Thus surfaces 500 and conductors 106 comprise electrical contacts capable of making an electrical connection with one another when brought into proximity as a node 104 is installed in chassis 102.

In general, the node identification values can be established by varying the number and location of installed clips. This is illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 5 and 6. When two clips are present (“P”) as in FIG. 5A, signals NID0 and NID1 are both pulled low, with the result that a node identification value of 00 is established. When only one clip is installed on the left-hand side as in FIG. 5B and the clip on the right-hand side is not present (“NP”), a node identification value of 01 is established. If one clip is installed on the right-hand side as in FIG. 5C, a node identification value of 10 is established. And if both clips are not present as in FIG. 5D, a node identification value of 11 is established.

FIG. 7 describes in method terms how the inventive technique may be employed to differentiate nodes in any multi-node electronic system. In step 700, chassis contacts and node contacts are provided and are disposed to be adjacent to one another after the nodes have been inserted into the chassis. In step 702, resilient conductors are installed either on the chassis or on the nodes to establish appropriate node identification values for each node. In step 704, the nodes are inserted into the chassis so that electrical connections are made between the chassis contacts and the node contacts in accordance with the node identification values established in step 702. Then in step 706, on each node, a node controller determines the node identification value for that node, responsive at least in part to the voltages maintained by the electrical contacts so made. The node controller then reports this value to a system controller in step 708. In step 710, the system controller can either determine whether the given node has reported an expected value, or it may determine whether all of the nodes have reported unique values, or both. Finally, in step 712, a visual indication of the determining step outcome is provided.

The inventive technique is not limited just to the classes of electro-mechanical implementations generally described above. Instead, persons having ordinary skill in the art and having reference to this specification will appreciate that a variety of means may be employed to identify each node in a multi-node electronic system, to verify that particular nodes have been installed in their intended locations in accordance with a configuration plan, and/or to verify that particular nodes are present.

Accordingly, method 800 shown in FIG. 8 illustrates a general technique for differentiating nodes in a multi-node system in accordance with various embodiments of the invention including without limitation those described by way of example herein. In step 802, an intended configuration is established for the system. The configuration may include parameters such as the number of nodes to be installed in the system and a specification of intended locations in the system for the nodes. For example, in a system such as that shown in FIG. 1, one node may be intended for an upper left bay 810 of chassis 102, another node may be intended for an upper right bay 812 of chassis 102, still another node may be intended for a lower right bay 814 of chassis 102 and so on. In step 804, a node ID is established for each of the multiple nodes to be installed in the system. Each of the node IDs may be unique, and each node ID may be associated with an intended location. The node IDs may be established using any suitable technique, including without limitation any of the electro-mechanical techniques described above, as well as other techniques such as with mechanical switches that respond to installation locations of a node within an enclosure. In step 806, the multiple nodes are installed in the system. In step 808, the node IDs are used to determine whether the multiple nodes as installed comply with the established intended configuration. This determination may be made using any suitable technique, including without limitation the controller technique described above, as well as other techniques such as by using comparator logic located anywhere inside or outside the system. The determination may also be made using software or firmware.

Among the advantages gained using the inventive technique are that cabling errors in multi-node systems may be avoided because the technique makes it possible to ensure that intended nodes are installed in intended locations. Moreover, it is possible to employ the inventive technique using minimal and inexpensive additional components.

While the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain embodiments thereof, the described embodiments have been presented by way of example and not by way of limitation. It will be understood by those skilled in the art and having reference to this specification that various changes may be made in the form and details of the described embodiments without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 

1. A method of differentiating nodes in a multi-node electronic system, comprising: establishing an intended configuration for the system, the configuration including a number of nodes to be installed and a specification of intended node locations; establishing a node ID for each of multiple nodes to be installed in the system; installing the multiple nodes; and using the node ID established for each of the multiple nodes, determining whether the multiple nodes as installed comply with the intended configuration.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein: the system comprises more than two nodes; and the steps of establishing the node ID and of installing comprise forming a unique binary identification value for each of the multiple nodes by making or not making electrical connections so as to represent a one or a zero for each digit of each binary identification value.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of establishing the node ID and of installing comprise: providing first and second chassis contacts on a chassis and first and second node contacts on first and second nodes, respectively, the chassis contacts disposed to be adjacent to the node contacts after the first and second nodes have been inserted into the chassis, but disposed not to make electrical connections with the node contacts without more; installing a resilient conductor either on the first chassis contact or on the first node contact such that an electrical connection will be made between them when the first node is inserted into the chassis; and inserting the first and second nodes into the chassis so that the resilient conductor makes an electrical connection between the first chassis contact and the first node contact and so that no electrical connection is made between the second chassis contact and the second node contact.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: on each node, determining a node identification value responsive at least in part to whether a connection exists between at least one of the node contacts and a corresponding one of the chassis contacts; and reporting the node identification value to a controller.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: on the controller, determining whether each node in the system has reported an expected node identification value; and providing a visual indication of the results of the determining step.
 6. The method of claim 3, wherein: installing the resilient conductor comprises urging legs of a metal clip against two opposing bearing surfaces; and inserting the nodes into the chassis comprises sliding a conductive arcuate surface against the clip.
 7. An electronic system, comprising: a chassis; multiple nodes configured to be installed in the chassis; one or more removable resilient conductors disposed on the nodes or on the chassis and configured to establish a different node identification value for each of the nodes by either making or not making electrical connections between circuitry on the nodes and circuitry on the chassis when the nodes are inserted into the chassis; a controller; and circuitry on each node configured to report the node identification value for that node to the controller.
 8. The system of claim 7: wherein the conductor comprises a clip that can be installed by engaging legs of the clip with opposing bearing surfaces on a structure to which it is to be mounted.
 9. The system of claim 8: wherein the structure defines at least two different locations at which the clip may be installed.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein: the system comprises more than two nodes and multiple clips; and the node identification values are formed by varying the locations at which the clips are installed and varying the number of clips installed.
 11. The system of claim 8: further comprising an arcuate conductive surface configured to engage the clip to make an electrical connection between the arcuate conductive surface and the clip when the nodes are inserted into the chassis.
 12. The system of claim 7: wherein the controller is configured to determine whether each node has reported an expected identifier.
 13. The system of claim 12: further comprising one communication bus for each node in the system; wherein each node communicates its node identification value to the controller via one of the buses; and wherein the controller is configured to expect a specific node identification value on each bus.
 14. An electronic system, comprising: a chassis; at least first and second nodes configured to be inserted into the chassis; at least first and second electrical contacts fixed to the chassis and disposed adjacent to the first and second nodes, respectively, when the nodes have been inserted; node identification circuitry configured to differentiate the nodes from one another by maintaining at least first and second different voltage values; and at least one removable resilient conductor disposed to make an electrical connection between one of the contacts and one of the nodes as the nodes are inserted; wherein the electrical connection creates one of the first and second different voltage values.
 15. The system of claim 14: further comprising at least a third node; and wherein the chassis comprises multiple contacts adjacent to each node such that the multiple contacts form a unique multi-digit binary number for each node by virtue of electrical connections made between the multiple contacts and the nodes when the nodes are inserted.
 16. The system of claim 14: wherein the conductor is a metal clip that can be attached by engaging it with opposing bearing surfaces.
 17. The system of claim 16: wherein the bearing surfaces are disposed on a flange fixed to the chassis and extending over a portion of one of the nodes.
 18. The system of claim 16: further comprising a conductive arcuate surface configured to engage the clip when the nodes are inserted in the chassis.
 19. The system of claim 14: further comprising a controller; wherein the node identification circuitry is disposed on each of the nodes and is configured to report a node identification value to the controller; and wherein the controller is configured to determine whether a unique node identification value has been reported for each node in the system.
 20. The system of claim 19: further comprising one communication bus per node in the system; and wherein the controller is configured to expect a specific node identification value to be reported on each of the communication buses. 